Video decoding apparatus and video coding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A mechanism is provided that implements video coding and decoding such that only a specific partial image region on a screen can be independently decoded. A video decoding apparatus (31) according to an aspect of the present invention configures, in intra prediction, inter prediction, loop filter processing, or the like, a partial image region in a picture, handles a region outside the partial image region in a similar manner to a region outside the picture, and does not apply such restriction to a non-partial image region other than the partial image region in the picture.

CLAIM OF BENEFIT TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application of International PatentApplication PCT/JP2019/032910, filed Aug. 22, 2019, now published asWO/2020045248. International Patent Application PCT/JP2019/032910 claimsthe benefit of Japanese Patent Application 2018-160712, filed Aug. 29,2018. Japanese Patent Application 2018-160712 and International PatentApplication PCT/JP2019/032910, now published as WO/2020045248, areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a video decodingapparatus and a video coding apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In order to efficiently transmit or record videos, video codingapparatuses that generate coded data by coding videos and video decodingapparatuses that generate decoded images by decoding the coded data areused.

Examples of specific video coding schemes include schemes proposed byH.264/Advanced Video Coding (AVC) and H.265/High-Efficiency Video Coding(HEVC).

In HEVC, a method of splitting pictures called tiles into rectangles hasbeen introduced. The tiles are mainly for splitting screens andperforming coding and decoding in parallel, and intra prediction, motionvector prediction, and entropy coding operate independently for eachtile.

In addition, NPL 1 is exemplified as a recent technique for coding anddecoding videos.

CITATION LIST Non Patent Literature

-   NPL 1: “Algorithm Description of Joint Exploration Test Model 7”,    JVET-G1001, Joint Video Exploration Team (JVET) of ITU-T SG 16 WP 3    and ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11, Aug. 19, 2017-   NPL 2: “Improved Cyclic Intra Refresh”, JVET-K0212, Joint Video    Exploration Team (JVET) of ITU-T SG 16 WP 3 and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC    29/WG 11, Jul. 10, 2018

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In a tile, intra prediction and a motion vector in the same screen arerestricted although inter prediction is not restricted.

In order to independently decode only a specific partial image region inthe same screen, it is not possible to properly perform decoding ifinter prediction processing referring to a region other than the partialimage region is included. Thus, there is a method of restricting adirection of a motion vector on a coding side in the related art.However, according to recent schemes such as HEVC, there is a methodusing a motion vector coded in the past such as a merging mode, andthere is a problem that it is difficult to explicitly restrict themotion vector and coding efficiency is significantly degraded.

Thus, the present invention was made in view of the aforementionedproblem, and an object thereof is to provide a mechanism that realizesvideo coding and decoding such that only a specific portion on the samescreen can be independently decoded.

Solution to Problem

A video decoding apparatus according to an aspect of the presentinvention configures a partial image region in a picture that is atarget of intra prediction, inter prediction, loop filter processing, orthe like, handles a region outside the partial image region in a similarmanner to a region outside the picture, and does not apply suchlimitation to a region other than the partial image region in thepicture.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible torealize partial decoding in a picture by configuring a partial imageregion, in which prediction processing and loop filter processing arerestricted, in the picture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of data of acoding stream.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a CTU split example.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of referencepictures and reference picture lists.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating types (mode numbers) of intraprediction modes.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a partial image region and anon-partial image region according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a range in which a target block canbe referred to according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of decoding processingperformed by a parameter decoder.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of syntax provided as anotification for configuring the partial image region.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the syntax provided asthe notification for configuring the partial image region.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a partial image regionconfiguring procedure.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a partial imageregion map.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining gradual refresh.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining syntax necessary for the gradualrefresh.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a videodecoding apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a videocoding apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating configurations of a transmittingapparatus equipped with the video coding apparatus and a receivingapparatus equipped with the video decoding apparatus according to thepresent embodiment. (a) illustrates the transmitting apparatus equippedwith the video coding apparatus, and (b) illustrates the receivingapparatus equipped with the video decoding apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating configurations of a recordingapparatus equipped with the video coding apparatus and a reconstructionapparatus equipped with the video decoding apparatus according to thepresent embodiment. (a) illustrates the recording apparatus equippedwith the video coding apparatus, and (b) illustrates the reconstructionapparatus equipped with the video decoding apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an imagetransmission system according to the present embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

Hereinafter, the present embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an imagetransmission system 1 according to the present embodiment.

The image transmission system 1 is a system in which coding streamsobtained by coding coding target images are transmitted, the transmittedcoding streams are decoded, and thus images are displayed. The imagetransmission system 1 includes a video coding apparatus (image codingapparatus) 11, a network 21, a video decoding apparatus (image decodingapparatus) 31, and a video display apparatus (image display apparatus)41.

An image T is input to the video coding apparatus 11.

The network 21 transmits a coding stream Te generated by the videocoding apparatus 11 to the video decoding apparatus 31. The network 21is the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN),or a combination thereof. The network 21 is not necessarily limited to abidirectional communication network and may be a unidirectionalcommunication network configured to transmit broadcast waves of digitalterrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, or the like. Thenetwork 21 may be substituted by a storage medium in which the codingstream Te is recorded, such as a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) or aBlue-ray Disc (BD).

The video decoding apparatus 31 decodes each coding stream Tetransmitted through the network 21 and generates one or a plurality ofdecoded images Td.

The video display apparatus 41 displays all or some of the one orplurality of decoded images Td generated by the video decoding apparatus31. The video display apparatus 41 includes, for example, a displaydevice such as a liquid crystal display or an organicelectro-luminescence (EL) display. Examples of forms of the displayinclude a stationary form, a mobile form, an HMD form, and the like.Images with high image quality are displayed in a case that the videodecoding apparatus 31 has a high processing capability, while imagesthat do not require a high processing capability and a high displaycapability are displayed in a case that the video decoding apparatus 31has only a low processing capability.

Operator

Operators used in the present specification will be described below.

>> denotes a right bit shift, <<denotes a left bit shift, & denotes abitwise AND, | denotes a bitwise OR, |=denotes an OR assignmentoperator, and ∥ denotes a logical sum.

x? y:z is a ternary operator that is y in a case that x is true (otherthan 0) and is z in a case that x is false (0).

Clip3(a, b, c) is a function that clips c in a value equal to or greaterthan a and equal to or less than b and a function that returns a in acase that c<a, returns b in a case that c>b, and returns c in othercases (provided that a<=b).

abs(a) is a function that returns an absolute value of a.

Int(a) is a function that returns an integer value of a.

floor(a) is a function that returns a maximum integer that is equal toor less than a.

ceil(a) is a function that returns a maximum integer that is equal togreater than a.

a/d denotes division of a by d (rounded down to the nearest decimalpoint).

Structure of Coding Stream Te

Prior to detailed description of the video coding apparatus 11 and thevideo decoding apparatus 31 according to the present embodiment, a datastructure of the coding stream Te generated by the video codingapparatus 11 and decoded by the video decoding apparatus 31 will bedescribed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchy structure of data in thecoding stream Te. The coding stream Te includes a sequence and aplurality of pictures constituting the sequence in an illustrativeexample. (a) to (f) of FIG. 2 are diagrams illustrating a coding videosequence prescribing a sequence SEQ, a coding picture prescribing apicture PICT, a coding slice prescribing a slice S, coding slice dataprescribing slice data, a coding tree unit included in the coding slicedata, and coding units included in the coding tree unit, respectively.

Coding Video Sequence

In the coding video sequence, a set of data items referred to by thevideo decoding apparatus 31 to decode the sequence SEQ to be processedis defined. As illustrated in FIG. 2(b), the sequence SEQ may include avideo parameter set, a sequence parameter set SPS, a picture parameterset PPS, a picture PICT, and supplemental enhancement information SEI.

In the video parameter set VPS, a set of coding parameters common to aplurality of videos and a set of coding parameters associated with aplurality of layers and individual layers included in the video aredefined in a video constituted by a plurality of layers.

In the sequence parameter set SPS, a set of coding parameters referredto by the video decoding apparatus 31 to decode a target sequence isdefined. For example, a width and a height of a picture are defined.Note that a plurality of SPSs may be present. In that case, any of theplurality of SPSs is selected from the PPS.

In the picture parameter set PPS, a set of coding parameters referred toby the video decoding apparatus 31 to decode each picture in a targetsequence is defined. For example, a reference value(pic_init_qp_minus26) of a quantization step size used for decoding of apicture and a flag (weighted_pred_flag) indicating an application ofweighted prediction are included. Note that a plurality of PPSs may bepresent. In that case, any of the plurality of PPSs is selected fromeach picture in a target sequence.

Coding Picture

In the coding picture, a set of data items referred to by the videodecoding apparatus 31 to decode a picture PICT to be processed isdefined. As illustrated in FIG. 2(b), the picture PICT includes slices 0to NS−1 (NS is the total number of slices included in the picture PICT).

Note that in a case that it is not necessary to distinguish each of theslices 0 to NS−1 below, subscripts of reference signs may be omitted. Inaddition, the same applies to other data with subscripts included in thecoding stream Te which will be described below.

Coding Slice

In the coding slice, a set of data items referred to by the videodecoding apparatus 31 to decode the slice S to be processed is defined.As illustrated in FIG. 2(b), the slice includes a slice header and slicedata.

The slice header includes a coding parameter group referred to by thevideo decoding apparatus 31 to determine a method of decoding a targetslice. Slice type specification information (slice_type) specifying aslice type is one example of a coding parameter included in the sliceheader.

Examples of slice types that can be specified by the slice typespecification information include (1) I slice using only intraprediction in coding, (2) P slice using a unidirectional prediction orintra prediction in coding, (3) B slice using unidirectional prediction,bidirectional prediction, or intra prediction in coding, and the like.Note that the inter prediction is not limited to uni-prediction andbi-prediction and a prediction image may be generated using morereference pictures. Hereinafter, slices called P and B slices indicateslices including blocks that can use inter prediction.

Note that the slice header may include reference (pic_parameter_set_id)to the picture parameter set PPS.

Coding Slice Data

In the coding slice data, a set of data items referred to by the videodecoding apparatus 31 to decode the slice data to be processed isdefined. The slice data includes a CTU as illustrated in FIG. 1(d). TheCTU is a block with a fixed size (for example, 64×64) constituting aslice and may be called a largest coding unit (LCU).

Coding Tree Unit

In FIG. 2(e), a set of data items referred to by the video decodingapparatus 31 to decode the CTU to be processed is defined. The CTU issplit into coding unit CUs that are basic units of coding processingthrough recursive quad tree split (quad tree (QT) split, binary tree(BT) split) or ternary tree split (ternary tree (TT) split). The BTsplit and the TT split will collectively be referred to as multi-treesplit (multi-tree (MT) split). Nodes with a tree structure obtained byrecursive quad tree split will be referred to as coding nodes.Intermediate nodes of a quad tree, a binary tree, and a ternary tree arecoding nodes, and the CTU itself is also defined as the highest codingnode.

CT includes, as CT information, QT split flag (cu_split_flag) indicatingwhether or not to perform QT split, an MT split mode (split_mt_mode)indicating a splitting method for MT split, an MT split direction(split_mt_dir_ indicating a splitting direction of MT split, and an MTsplit type (split_mt_type) indicating a split type of MT split.cu_split_flag, split_mt_flag, split_mt_dir, and split_mt_type aretransmitted for each coding node.

In a case that cu_split_flag is 1, the coding node is split into fourcoding nodes (FIG. 2(b)). In a case that cu_split_flag is 0, the codingnode is not split and has one CU as a node in a case that split_mt_flagis 0 (FIG. 2(a)). The CU is an end node of the coding node and is notsplit any more. The CU is a basic unit of coding processing.

In a case that split_mt_flag is 1, the following MT split is performedon the coding node. In a case that the split_mt_type is 0, the codingnode is horizontally split into two coding nodes in a case thatsplit_mt_dir is 1 (FIG. 2(d)), and the coding node is vertically splitinto two coding nodes in a case that split_mt_dir is 0 (FIG. 2(c)).Also, in a case that the split_mt_type is 1, the coding node ishorizontally split into three coding nodes in a case that split_mt_diris 1 (FIG. 2(f)), and the coding node is vertically split into threecoding nodes in a case that split_mt_dir is 0 (FIG. 2(e)).

Also, in a case that the size of the CTU is 64×64 pixels, the size ofthe CU can be any of 64×64 pixels, 64×32 pixels, 32×64 pixels, 32×32pixels, 64×16 pixels, 16×64 pixels, 32×16 pixels, 16×32 pixels, 16×16pixels, 64×8 pixels, 8×64 pixels, 32×8 pixels, 8×32 pixels, 16×8 pixels,8×16 pixels, 8×8 pixels, 64×4 pixels, 4×64 pixels, 32×4 pixels, 4×32pixels, 16×4 pixels, 4×16 pixels, 8×4 pixels, 4×8 pixels, and 4×4pixels.

Coding Unit

As illustrated in FIG. 1(f), a set of data items referred to by thevideo decoding apparatus 31 to decode the coding unit to be processed isdefined. Specifically, the CU is constituted of a CU header CUH, aprediction parameter, a transform parameter, a quantization transformcoefficient, and the like. In the CU header, a prediction mode and thelike are defined.

The prediction processing may be performed in units of CUs and in unitsof sub-CUs obtained by further splitting the CUs. In a case that thesizes of the CU and the sub-CU are the same, there is one sub-CU in theCU. In a case that the CU has a larger size than the sub-CU, the CU issplit into the sub-CUs. For example, in a case that the CU has a size of8×8 and the sub-CU has a size of 4×4, the CU is horizontally split intotwo sub-CUs, is vertically split into two sub-CUs, and is thus splitinto four sub-CUs.

There are two types of prediction (prediction modes): intra predictionand inter prediction. Intra prediction is prediction in an identicalpicture, and inter prediction is prediction processing performed betweendifferent pictures (for example, between pictures of different displaytimes, or between pictures of different layer images).

Although the transform and quantization processing is performed in unitsof CUs, the quantization transform coefficient may be entropy-coded inunits of 4×4 sub-blocks or the like.

Prediction Parameters

The prediction image is derived by prediction parameters that accompanyblocks. The prediction parameters include prediction parameters of intraprediction and prediction parameters of inter prediction.

Hereinafter, the prediction parameters of inter prediction will bedescribed. The inter prediction parameters are constituted by predictionlist utilization flags predFlagL0 and predFlagL1, reference pictureindexes refIdxL0 and refIdxL1, and motion vectors mvL0 and mvL1. Theprediction list utilization flags predFlagL0 and predFlagL1 are flags toindicate whether or not reference picture lists referred to as an L0list and an L1 list respectively are to be used, and a correspondingreference picture list is used in a case that the value is 1. Note that,in a case that the present specification mentions “a flag indicatingwhether or not XX”, a flag being other than 0 (for example, 1) assumes acase of XX, and a flag being 0 assumes a case of not XX, and 1 istreated as true and 0 is treated as false in a logical negation, alogical product, and the like (hereinafter, the same is applied).However, other values can be used for true values and false values inreal apparatuses and methods.

For example, syntax elements to derive inter prediction parametersinclude a merge flag merge_flag, a merge index merge_idx, an interprediction identifier inter_pred_idc, a reference picture indexrefIdxLX, a prediction vector index mvp_LX_idx, and a difference vectormvdLX.

Reference Picture List

A reference picture list is a list constituted by reference picturesstored in a reference picture memory 306. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagramillustrating an example of reference pictures and reference picturelists in a picture structure for low latency. In (a) of the drawing, arectangle indicates a picture, an arrow indicates a referencerelationship of a picture, a horizontal axis indicates time, I, P, and Bin a rectangle indicate an intra-picture, a uni-prediction picture, anda bi-prediction picture, respectively, and numbers in rectanglesindicates a decoding order. As illustrated in the drawing, the decodingorder of the pictures is I0, P1/B1, P2/B2, P3/B3, and P4/B4, and thedisplay order is also the same. (b) in the drawing illustrates anexample of reference picture lists of the picture B3 (target picture).The reference picture lists are lists to represent candidates of areference picture, and one picture (slice) may have one or morereference picture lists. In the illustrated example, the target pictureB3 has two reference picture lists, namely, an L0 list RefPicList0 andan L1 list RefPicList1. For the individual CUs, which of the pictures inthe reference picture list RefPicListX (X=0 or 1) is to be actuallyreferred to is designated by a reference picture index refIdxLX. Thedrawing shows an example in which refIdxL0=2 and refIdxL1=0. In a casethat the target picture is P3, the reference picture list is only the L0list. Note that LX is a description method used in a case of notdistinguishing the L0 prediction and the L1 prediction, and in thefollowing description, the parameter for the L0 list and the parameterfor the L1 list are distinguished by replacing LX with L0 or L1.

Merge Prediction and AMVP Prediction

Decoding (coding) methods of prediction parameters include a mergeprediction (merge) mode and an adaptive motion vector prediction (AMVP)mode, and merge flag merge_flag is a flag to identify these modes.

The merge prediction mode is a mode used to derive the prediction listutilization flag predFlagLX (or the inter prediction identifierinter_pred_idc), the reference picture index refIdxLX, and the motionvector mvLX from prediction parameters of a nearby block that hasalready been processed without including these in the coded data. Themerge index merge_idx is an index indicating which prediction parameteramong prediction parameter candidates (merge candidates) derived fromthe block that has already been processed is to be used as a predictionparameter for the target block.

The AMVP mode is a mode in which the inter prediction identifierinter_pred_idc, the reference picture index refIdxLX, and the motionvector mvLX are included in the coded data. Note that the motion vectormvLX is coded as a prediction vector index mvp_LX_idx identifying aprediction vector mvpLX and a difference vector mvdLX. The interprediction identifier inter_pred_idc is a value indicating types and thenumber of reference pictures and takes any of the values PRED_L0,PRED_L1, and PRED_BI. PRED_L0 and PRED_L1 indicate uni-prediction usingone reference picture managed by the L0 list and the L1 list,respectively. PRED_BI indicates bi-prediction BiPred using two referencepictures managed by the L0 list and the L1 list.

Motion Vector

The motion vector mvLX indicates a shift amount between blocks in twodifferent pictures. A prediction vector and a difference vector relatedto the motion vector mvLX are referred to as a prediction vector mvpLXand a difference vector mvdLX, respectively.

Hereinafter, prediction parameters of the intra prediction will bedescribed. The intra prediction parameters are constituted by aluminance prediction mode IntraPredModeY and a chrominance predictionmode IntraPredModeC. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating types(mode numbers) of intra prediction modes. As illustrated in the drawing,there are 67 (0 to 66) types of intra prediction modes, for example. Forexample, there are Planar prediction (0), DC prediction (1), and Angularprediction (2 to 66). Furthermore, LM modes (67 to 72) may be added forchrominance.

Syntax elements to derive the intra prediction parameters include, forexample, prev_intra_luma_pred_flag, mpm_idx, rem_selected_mode_flag,rem_selected_mode, and rem_non_selected_mode.

MPM

prev_intra_luma_pred_flag is a flag indicating whether or not theluminance prediction mode IntraPredModeY of the target block conforms toa most probable mode (MPM). MPM is a prediction mode included in an MPMcandidate list mpmCandList[ ]. The MPM candidate list is a list storingcandidates that are estimated to have high likelihoods of application tothe target block from the intra prediction mode of an adjacent block anda predetermined intra prediction mode. In a case thatprev_intra_luma_pred_flag is 1, the luminance prediction modeIntraPredModeY of the target block is derived using the MPM candidatelist and the index mpm_idx.IntraPredModeY=mpmCandList[mpm_idx]

REM

In a case that prev_intra_luma_pred_flag is 0, an intra prediction modeis selected from modes RemIntraPredMode remaining after excluding intraprediction modes included in the MPM candidate list from all the intraprediction modes. The intra prediction mode which is selectable asRemIntraPredMode is referred to as “non-MPM” or “REM”. The flagrem_selected_mode_flag is a flag designating whether an intra predictionmode is to be selected with reference to rem_selected_mode or whether anintra prediction mode is to be selected with reference torem_non_selected_mode. RemIntraPredMode is derived usingrem_selected_mode or rem_non_selected_mode.

Partial Image Region Coding and Decoding Region

Video coding decoding methods of configuring a partial image region inthe same picture, performing coding and decoding processing on thepartial image region without using pixels in the other region, andperforming coding and decoding processing on the other region using theentire picture will be described.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a region A and a region B accordingto the present invention. According to the video coding apparatus anddecoding apparatus in the present invention, regions corresponding tothe region A and the region B in the picture are configured. Forexample, the region A and the region B are configured by a partial imageregion controller, which will be described later. For the region A, itis possible to perform prediction processing only from the region A, andfor the outside of the region, processing similar to that for theoutside of the picture or the tile, such as padding, is performed. Onthe other hand, it is possible to perform prediction processing from theentire picture including the region A for the region B. Here, the“prediction processing” indicates intra prediction, inter prediction,loop filter processing, and the like. As for the region A, the codingprocessing and the decoding processing are closed in the region A, andit is thus possible to decode only the region A.

Hereinafter, the region A will be referred to as a partial image region(a first region, a controlled region, a clean region, a refreshedregion, a region A). On the other hand, the region other than thepartial image region will also be referred to as a non-partial imageregion (a second region, a non-controlled region, a dirty region, anunrefreshed region, a region B, outside of the limited region).

For example, a region that is coded and decoded only through the intraprediction and that has already been coded through intra prediction (anewly refreshed region IRA obtained only through intra, which will bedescribed later) is a partial image region. A region that is coded anddecoded further referring the partial image region constituted throughthe intra prediction is also a partial image region. Further, a regionthat is coded and decoded with reference to the partial image region inthe reference picture as in the inter prediction, for example, is also apartial image region. In other words, the partial image region is aregion that is coded and decoded referring only to the pixels in thepartial image region without referring to the pixels in the non-partialimage region.

Hereinafter, the upper left position of a partial image region isindicated as (xRA_st, yRA_st), the lower right position thereof isindicated as (xRA_en, yRA_en), and the size thereof is indicated as(wRA, hRA). Also, because the position and the size have the followingrelationship, one of them may be derived from the other.xRA_en=xRA_st+wRA−1yRA_en=yRA_st+hRA−1

Also, the following derivation can also be employed.wRA=xRA_en−xRA_st+1hRA=yRA_en−yRA_st+1

Further, the upper left position of a limited reference region at a timej is indicated as (xRA_st[j], yRA_s[j]), the lower right positionthereof is indicated as (xRA_en[j], yRA_en[j]), and the size thereof isindicated as (wRA[j], hRA[j]). Also, the position of the limitedreference region of the reference picture Ref may be indicated as(xRA_st[Ref], yRA_st[Ref]), the lower right position may be indicated as(xRA_en[Ref], yRA_en[Ref]), and the size thereof may be indicated as(wRA[Ref], hRA[Ref]).

Determination of Partial Image Region

For example, in a case that a certain picture is taken at a time i andthe position of a certain block is (x, y), whether or not a pixel at theposition is inside a partial image region may be determined by thefollowing equation.IsRA(x,y)=(xRA_st[i]<=x&& x<=xRA_en[i]&& yRA_st[i]<=y&& y<=yRA_en[i])

Alternatively, the following determination equation may be used.IsRA(x,y)=(xRA_st[i]<=x && x<xRA_st[i]+wRA[i]&& yRA_st[i]<=y &&y<yRA_st[i]+hRA[i])IsRA(xRef,yRef)=(xRA_st[Ref]<=xRef &&xRef<=xRA_en[Ref]&&yRA_st[Ref]<=yRef && yRef<=yRA_en[Ref])

For example, in a case that the target picture is taken at the time i,the upper left coordinates of the target block Pb are (xPb, yPb), andthe width and the height are bW and bH, the intra prediction unit, themotion compensation unit, and the loop filter of the video decodingapparatus and the video coding apparatus derive IsRA(Pb) by thefollowing determination equation if the target block Pb is inside thepartial image region.IsRA(Pb)=(xRA_st[i]<=xPb && xPb<=xRA_en[i]&& yRA_st[i]<=yPb &&yPb<=yRA_en[i])

Alternatively, the following determination equation may be used.IsRA(Pb)=(xRA_st[i]<=xPb && xPb<xRA_st[i]+wRA[i}&& yRA_st[i]<=yPb &&yPb<yRA_st[i]+hRA[i])

Basic Operations for Reference Region of Partial Image Region

The video coding apparatus and the video decoding apparatus according tothe present specification perform the following operations.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a range in which the partial imageregion can be referred to through the intra prediction, the interprediction, and the loop filter according to the present invention. FIG.6 illustrates a range in which the target block included in the partialimage region can be referred to. The region surrounded by the thick linein the picture in FIG. 6(a) is a region that is included in the partialimage region and that has already been coded and decoded. The regionthat is included in the partial image region in the same picture (targetimage i) as that of the target block and that has already been coded anddecoded is a range in which the target block can be referred to throughthe intra prediction, the inter prediction, and the loop filter.Similarly, the partial image region in the reference picture (referenceimage j) is a range in which the target block can be referred to throughthe inter prediction and the loop filter. FIG. 6(b) illustrates a rangein which the target block included in the non-partial image region canbe referred to. The region surrounded by the thick line in the picturein FIG. 6(b) is a region that has already been coded and decoded in thetarget picture. The region that has already been coded or decoded in thetarget picture (target image i) is a range in which the target block canbe referred to through the intra prediction and the inter prediction.Similarly, all the regions in the reference picture (reference image j)are in the range in which reference can be made through the interprediction. Note that, in a case that parallel processing and referencerestriction of tiles, slices, wavefronts, and the like are used, otherrestrictions may be added in addition to the aforementionedrestrictions.

-   -   For the target block included in the partial image region, intra        prediction referring only to pixels in the partial image region        in the target picture or inter prediction referring to the        limited reference region of the reference picture is performed.    -   For the target block included in the partial image region, the        coding parameter of the target block is derived with reference        to the coding parameter (for example, the intra prediction        direction, the motion vector, or the reference picture index) of        the partial image region in the target picture or with reference        to the coding parameter of the limited reference region of the        reference picture.    -   For the target block included in the partial image region, loop        filter processing is performed referring only to the pixels in        the partial image region in the target picture.

Determination and Availability of Partial Image Region

In MPM derivation of the intra prediction, merge candidate derivation ofthe inter prediction and the like, the prediction parameters (the intraprediction mode, the motion vector) of the target block may be derivedusing prediction parameters of the adjacent region. In such a case, thefollowing processes may be performed. In a case that in a case that thetarget block in the intra prediction and the inter prediction is thepartial image region (IsRA(xPb, yPb) is true) and the reference position(xNbX, yNbX) of the adjacent block of the target block is thenon-partial image region (IsRA(xNbX, yNbX) is false), the value of theadjacent block is not used to derive the prediction parameters. In otherwords, in a case that the target block is the partial image region(IsRA(xPb, yPb) is true) and the reference position (xNbX, yNbX) of theadjacent block of the target block is the partial image region(IsRA(xNbX, yNbX) is true), the position (xNbX, yNbX) is used to derivethe prediction parameters.

Note that the derivation of prediction candidates has been describedabove, the determination of the partial image region may be usedgenerally for determining a region outside the screen similarly to thedetermination of units (the slice boundary, the tile boundary) for theregion outside the screen or parallel processing. In this case, in acase that the target block is the partial image region (IsRA (xPb, yPb)is true) and the reference position (xNbX, yNbX) of the target block isthe partial image region (IsRA(xNbX, yNbX) is true), it is determinedthat the reference position (xNbX, yNbX) cannot be referred to(availableNbX=0). In other words, in a case that the target block iswithin the screen, the target block and the reference position are notin the same different parallel processing unit, and the target block ispresent in the non-partial image region, or the reference position(xNbX, yNbX) of the target block is the partial image region (IsRA(xNbX,yNbX) is true), it is determined that the reference position (xNbX,yNbX) can be referred to (availableNbX=1). In the intra prediction andthe inter prediction, in a case that the reference position (xNbX, yNbX)can be referred to (availableNbX=1), the prediction parameters at thereference position are used to derive the prediction parameters of thetarget block.

Determination of Limited Reference Region and Clipping of LimitedReference Region

Also, in a case that the reference picture is taken at the time j andthe upper left position of the reference image is (xRef, yRef), themotion compensation unit derives the case that the reference pixels arepresent within the limited reference region using the followingdetermination equation.IsRA(xRef,yRef)=(xRA_s[j]<=xRef && xRef<=xRA_en[j]&&yRA_st[j]<=yRef &&yRef<=yRA_en[j])

Alternatively, the following determination equation may be used.IsRA(xRef,yRef)=(xRA_st[j]<=xRef && xRef<xRA_st[j]+wRA[j]&&yRA_st[i]<=yRef && yRef<yRA+s[j]+Hra[j])

Also, the motion compensation unit may clip the reference pixels atpositions in the partial image region using the following equations.Xref=Clip3(xRA_st[j],xRA_en[j],xRef)Yref=Clip3(yRA_st[j],yRA_en[j],yRef)

Alternatively, the following derivation equations may be used.x Ref=Clip3(xRA_st[j],xRA_st[j]+wRA[j]−1,x Ref)yRef=Clip3(yRa_st[j],yRA_st[j]+hRA[j]−1,yRef)

Note that the position of the partial image region is transmitted fromthe video coding apparatus to the video decoding apparatus using gradualrefresh information, which will be described later. Note that instead ofderiving the position and the size of the partial image region inaccordance with the time (for example, the POC), a reference picture Refin a reference memory may be configured after the target picture isdecoded or at a time when decoding of the target picture is started. Inthis case, it is possible to derive the position and the size of thepartial image region through designation of the reference picture Ref.

SDR Picture

The entire instantaneous decoder refresh (IDR) picture in the AVC or theHEVC is an intra CTU, can be randomly accessed, and realizes a randomaccess of coded data as a picture that can be independently decoded. Inthe present embodiment, the picture in which the partial image regionhas entirely been intra-coded can be identified with nal_unit_type of anetwork abstraction layer (NAL) as a sequentially decoder refresh (SDR)picture.

As for the SDR picture, it is possible to independently decode a partialscreen region in the picture and to randomly access the partial screenregion. Because the entire IDR picture in the related art corresponds tointra while a part of the SDR picture corresponds to intra, the codingamount varies less.

Parameter Decoder 302

The parameter decoder 302 configures a partial image region as follows,for example, in an SDR picture.

-   -   A partial image region is configured as a rectangle defined by        the coordinates of the upper left CTU and the numbers of CTUs        corresponding to the width and the height.    -   A partial image region is configured as a rectangle defined by        the position of the upper left pixel and the numbers of pixels        corresponding to the width and the height.    -   A plurality of partial image regions are configured in a single        picture.    -   A plurality of partial image regions are configured such that        the partial image regions are superimposed on each other.

“The plurality of partial image region are superimposed on each other”means that a plurality of partial image regions included in one picturemay include a CTU at the same position, for example.

In addition, partial image regions of a plurality of pictures in a groupof pictures (GOP) may be superimposed on each other. Here, “the partialimage regions are superimposed on each other” corresponds to thesituation that the partial image region configured in the SDR pictureand the partial image region configured in the next picture of the SDRpicture include CTUs at the same position. The number of picturesincluding the partial image regions superimposed on each other is notparticularly limited, and the pictures are a plurality of picturescontinuing from the SDR picture in the GOP.

Flow of Processing Performed by Parameter Decoder 302 (SDR Picture)

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing performed by theparameter decoder 302.

Step S1

Decoding is started, and the processing proceeds to Step S2.

Step S2

The parameter decoder 302 determines whether or not the target pictureis an SDR picture with nal_unit_type of NAL. The processing proceeds toS3 in a case that the target picture is an SDR picture, and theprocessing proceeds to S4 in a case that the target picture is not anSDR picture.

Step S3

The partial image region included in the target picture is configured asa region to be decoded through intra prediction, and the processingproceeds to S4.

Step S4

The parameter decoder 302 decodes the target picture.

The video decoding apparatus 31 can decode a video of only the partialimage region of the pictures continuing from the SDR picture byconfiguring the partial image region in this manner.

Example 1 of Region Information

Syntax for configuring partial image regions may be included in apicture parameter set. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example ofsyntax provided as a notification for configuring partial image regions.Partial_region_mode is information for specifying whether or not todefine partial image regions in pictures, In a case thatpartial_region_mode included in the picture parameter set is 1, theentropy decoder 301 included in the video decoding apparatus 31determines that it is necessary to configure the partial image regionsand decodes num_of_patial_region_minus1.

num_of_patial_region_minus1 indicates “the number of partial imageregions−1” in the picture. position_ctu_address[i] indicates the addressof the upper left CTU in the i-th partial image region of a plurality ofpartial image regions in the pictures. region_ctu_width_minus1[i]indicates, in regard to the i-th partial image region from among aplurality of partial image regions in the pictures, “the number of CTUsin the partial image region in the horizontal direction−1”.region-ctu_height_minus1[i] indicates, in regard to the i-th partialimage region from among a plurality of partial image regions in thepictures, the number of CTUs in the partial image region in the verticaldirection−1”.

The entropy decoder 301 adds one to i until i becomes equal to the valueof num_of_patial_region_minus1 and decodes position_ctu_address[i],region_ctu_width_minus1[i], and region_ctu_height_minus1[i].

Then, the partial image region controller 320 included in the videodecoding apparatus 31 configures, in a target picture, a partial imageregion at the position and with the size specified by

-   -   position_ctu_address[i]    -   region_ctu_width_minus1[i]    -   region_ctu_height_minus1 [i]        for each i.

Note that

-   -   num_of_patial_region_minus1    -   position_ctu_address[i]    -   region_ctu_width_minus1[i]    -   region_ctu_height_minus1 [i]

are examples of region information for specifying the partial imageregions.

Example 2 of Region Information

Syntax for configuring partial image regions may be included in a sliceheader. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of syntax providedas a notification to configure partial image regions.first_slice_segment_in_pic_flag is a flag indicating whether or not acorresponding slice is the first slice in a decoding order. In a casethat first slice_segment_in_pic_flag is 1, this indicates that thecorresponding slice is the first slice. Also, in a case thatfirst_slice_segment_in_pic_flag is 0, this indicates that thecorresponding slice is not the first slice. In a case thatfirst_slice_segment_in_pic_flag is 1, partial_region_mode is configured,and the entropy decoder 301 included in the video decoding apparatus 31decodes num_of_patial_region_minus1.

num_of_patial_region_minus1 indicates “the number of partial imageregions−1” in a slice. position_ctu_address[i] indicates the address ofthe upper left CTU in the i-th partial image region from among aplurality of partial image regions that are present in the slice.region_ctu_width_minus1[i] indicates, in regard to the i-th partialimage region from among a plurality of partial image regions in theslice, “the number of CTUs in the partial image region in the horizontaldirection−1”. region_ctu_height_minus1[i] indicates, in regard to thei-th partial image region from among the plurality of partial imageregions in the slice, “the number of CTUs in the partial image region inthe vertical direction−1”,

The entropy decoder 301 adds one to i until i becomes equal to the valueof num_of_patial_region_minus1 and decodes position_ctu_address[i],region_ctu_width_minus1[i], and region_ctu_height_minus1[i].

Then, the partial image region controller 320 included in the videodecoding apparatus 31 configures, in a target slice, a partial imageregion at a position with a size specified by

-   -   position_ctu_address[i]    -   region_ctu_width_minus1[i]    -   region_ctu_height_minus1[i]        for each i.

Note that

-   -   num_of_patial_region_minus1    -   position_ctu_address[i]    -   region_ctu_width_minus1[i]    -   region_ctu_height_minus1 [i]        are examples of region information for specifying the partial        image regions.

Note that although one CTU is regarded as a minimum unit in the aboveexample, one or a plurality of CTU columns or one or a plurality of CTUrows and a plurality of CTUs may be configured as minimum units.

Example of Procedure for Configuring Partial Image Region

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing performed bythe video decoding apparatus 31 in a case that partial image regions aredefined in a picture parameter set.

Step S1

The decoding processing is started, and processing proceeds to Step S2.

Step S2

The entropy decoder 301 moves on to Step S3 in a case ofpartial_region_mode (in a case that partial_region_mode is 1) and moveson to Step S4 in a case of not partial_region_mode (in a case thatpartial_region_mode is 0).

Step S3

In a case of partial_region_mode, the entropy decoder 301 decodes eachsyntax included in region information, and the partial image regioncontroller 320 defines partial image regions designated by each syntaxand ends the processing. Specific processing of configuring the partialimage regions is as described above.

Step S4

In a case of not partial_region_mode, the video decoding apparatus 31deletes the partial image regions and ends the processing.

Partial Image Region Map

The parameter decoder 302 may be configured to configure a partial imageregion map (partial_region_map) as information representing the positionof the partial image region for each picture.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of syntax provided as anotification to configure partial image regions. Partial_region_map issyntax representing whether or not a corresponding region is a partialscreen region for each CTU inside a picture. The entropy decoder 301included in the video decoding apparatus 31 determines that thecorresponding region is a partial image region in a case thatpartial_region_map is 1 and determines that the corresponding region isa non-partial image region in a case that partial_region_map is 0.Partial_region_mode is information for specifying whether or not todefine partial image regions in pictures,

PicHeightInCtbsY indicates the number of CTUs in a picture in thevertical direction, and PicWidthInCtbsY indicates the number of CTUs inthe picture in the horizontal direction.

One is added to i until i becomes equal tonum_of_patial_region_minus1+1, andy=position_ctu_address[i]/PicWidthInCtbsY and x=position_ctu_address[i]%PicWidthInCtbsY are calculated.

One is added to j until j becomes equal to region_ctu_width_minus1[i],one is added to k until k becomes equal to region_ctu_height_minus1[i],and corresponding partial_region_map[h+j][w+k] is configured to be one.

The partial image region controller 320 of the parameter decoder 302 maybe configured to configure partial image regions with reference to thusgenerated partial_region_map.

Information regarding partial_region_map representing the position ofthe partial image region saved for each picture is managed by a decoderpicture buffer (DPB) in a decoded picture memory. Further, informationregarding partial_region_map is stored in the reference picture list inthe reference picture memory 306 to be used for inter predictionperformed by the prediction image generation unit 308.

Here, in regard to the order of decoding and coding of the CTUs, thevideo decoding apparatus 31 decodes the CTUs in a raster scanning orderin units of pictures or tiles without distinguishing the CTUs in thepartial image region and the non-partial image region, and the videocoding apparatus 11 codes the CTUs in a raster scanning order withoutdistinguishing the CTUs in the partial image region and the CTUs in thenon-partial image region.

Also, the entropy coder 104 is configured to perform entropy codingwithout distinguishing the partial image region and the non-partialimage region, and the entropy decoder 301 is configured to performentropy decoding independently for the partial image region and for thenon-partial image region. More specifically, the entropy coder 104 andthe entropy decoder 301 are configured to update context in a continuousmanner between the partial image region and the non-partial imageregion.

Because the concepts of the partial image region and the non-partialimage region described in the present embodiment are concepts that areindependent from the decoding and coding orders, the orders of decodingand coding the CTUs may be mutually independent between the partialimage region and the non-partial image region.

In one example, the video decoding apparatus 31 may be configured tomutually independently decode the CTUs in the partial image region andthe CTUs in the non-partial image region in a raster scanning order, andthe video coding apparatus 11 may be configured to mutuallyindependently code the CTUs in the partial image region and the CTUs inthe non-partial image region in a raster scanning order.

Also, the entropy coder 104 may be configured to perform entropy codingindependently for the partial image region and the non-partial imageregion, and the entropy decoder 301 may be configured to perform entropydecoding independently for the partial image region and for thenon-partial image region. More specifically, the entropy coder 104 andthe entropy decoder 301 may be configured to update contextindependently for the partial image region and the non-partial imageregion.

Decoding of Partial Image Region

In the aforementioned configuration, an initial configuration of apartial image region is performed with an SDR picture. The video codingapparatus 11 codes a video signal in which partial image regions that istemporally continuous are configured to create a bit stream. If thevideo decoding apparatus 31 finds an SDR picture from nal_unit_type ofNAL in the bit stream, the video decoding apparatus 31 first performsintra coding and loop filter processing on the partial image region inthe SDR picture without referring to the non-partial region. It is thuspossible to properly decode the partial image region. Because for thepartial image region of a picture decoded later, the non-partial imageregion is not referred to in a case of the inter coding and thenon-partial image region of the picture is not referred to in a case ofthe intra coding and the loop filter processing, it is possible tosecure that the partial image region can be properly decoded.

Second Embodiment

Gradual Refresh

An embodiment in which the methods of coding and decoding a partialimage region according to the present invention are applied to intrarefresh will be described. In general, intra refresh is a method ofconfiguring a region to be intra-coded at a part in a picture andtemporally moving the region in the picture such that the entire picturecan be intra-coded in a specific period of time. An object is tointra-code an entire picture without increasing the coding amount of thespecific picture, realize random access, and realize recovery from anerror in a case that there has been an error in a bit stream by spittingthe picture in a specific period of time and performing intra codingthereon. In the present embodiment, coding and decoding of a partialscreen region, using an SDR picture, and a gradual refresh functionequivalent to intra refresh are realized.

FIG. 12(a) is a diagram for explaining an overview of gradual refreshaccording to the present embodiment. In the gradual refresh according tothe present embodiment, the parameter coder 111 configures a partialimage region A at a part in a picture first, and the gradual refresh isstarted from an SDR picture in which the partial image region has beenintra-coded and is ended at a time when the partial screen region Atemporally includes a previous partial image region, the region iscaused to increase, and the partial screen region A reaches the entirepicture.

If the video decoding apparatus 31 sets the SDR picture as an accesspoint, starts decoding from the bit stream, and performs decoding untilthe region A reaches the entire picture, then the entire picture can beproperly decoded.

A method of configuring a partial image region may be specified in a PPSor a slice header by using the method described in the first embodiment,or in a case that seq-refresh_enable_flag, which will be describedlater, is 1, the partial image region may be caused to implicitlyincrease for each CTU column, each CTU row, or each CTU in a codingorder of the picture after the partial image region is configured in theSDR picture.

A non-reference picture refers to other pictures but is not referred toby other pictures. In a non-reference picture, the partial image regionmay not be configured by the gradual refresh.

FIG. 12(b) is a diagram for explaining an overview of other gradualrefresh according to the present embodiment. In the gradual refreshaccording to the present embodiment, the parameter coder 111 firstconfigures a partial image region A at a part of a picture and causesthe partial screen region A to temporally include previous partial imageregions and increases in size starting from the SDR picture in which thepartial image region has been intra-coded. At this time, the partialimage region caused to increase in size is intra-coded. Then, at a timewhen the partial screen region A reaches the entire picture, the gradualrefresh ends. Since it is difficult to correctly perform interprediction, which is prediction in a time direction, for the partialimage region caused to increase in size, the partial image region may becoded with reference to the coding parameters.

If the video decoding apparatus 31 sets the SDR picture as an accesspoint, starts decoding from the bit stream, and performs decoding untilthe region A reaches the entire picture, then the entire picture can beproperly decoded.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of syntax provided as anotification to realize the gradual refresh. FIG. 13 illustrates syntax(gradual refresh information) provided as a notification using asequence parameter set (SPS). Seq_refresh_enable_flag is a flagindicating whether or not to use the gradual refresh for pictures afterthe SDR picture. The parameter decoder 302 decodes the gradual refreshinformation, and the video decoding apparatus 31 performs decoding usingthe gradual refresh in a case that seq_refresh_enable_flag flag is 1 anddoes not use the gradual refresh in a case that seq_refresh_enable_flagis 0. The parameter decoder 302 decodes seq_refresh_period in a casethat seq_refresh_enable_flag is 1. seq_refresh_period indicates thenumber of pictures until the entire picture can be properly decoded fromthe SDR picture that is a random access point. Note that the number ofnon-reference pictures may not be counted at this time.

Configuration of Video Decoding Apparatus

Next, a configuration of the video decoding apparatus 31 (FIG. 14 )according to the present embodiment will be described.

The video decoding apparatus 31 is configured to include an entropydecoder 301, a parameter decoder (a prediction image decoding apparatus)302, a loop filter 305, a reference picture memory 306, a predictionparameter memory 307, a prediction image generation unit (predictionimage generation apparatus) 308, an inverse quantization and inversetransform unit 311, and an addition unit 312. Note that a configurationin which the loop filter 305 is not included in the video decodingapparatus 31 may be combined with the video coding apparatus 11, whichwill be described later.

The parameter decoder 302 includes a partial image region controller320, the partial image region controller 320 includes a header decoder3020, a CT information decoder 3021, and a CU decoder 3022 (predictionmode decoder), which are not illustrated in the drawing, and the CUdecoder 3022 further includes a TU decoder 3024. The header decoder 3020decodes parameter set information such as VPS, SPS, and PPS from codeddata. The header decoder 3020 decodes a slice header (slice information)from the coded data. The CT information decoder 3021 decodes a CT fromcoded data. The CU decoder 3022 decodes a CU from coded data. In a casethat a TU includes a prediction error, the TU decoder 3024 decodes QPupdate information (quantization correction value) and quantizationprediction error (residual_coding) from coded data.

In addition, the parameter decoder 302 is configured to include an interprediction parameter decoder 303 and an intra prediction parameterdecoder 304, which are not illustrated in the drawing. The predictionimage generation unit 308 includes an inter prediction image generationunit 309 and an intra prediction image generation unit 310.

Although an example in which a CTU and a CU are used as units ofprocessing will be described below, the present invention is not limitedthereto, and processing may be performed in units of sub-CUs.Alternatively, a CTU, a CU, and a TU may be read as a block instead, anda sub-CU may be read as a sub-block instead, to understand theprocessing as processing in units of blocks or sub-blocks.

The entropy decoder 301 performs entropy decoding on the coding streamTe input from the outside and separates and decodes individual codes(syntax elements). For entropy coding, there are a scheme in whichvariable length coding is performed on the syntax elements using context(probability model) adaptively selected in accordance with types ofsyntax elements and a surrounding condition and a scheme in whichvariable length coding is performed on the syntax elements using apredefined table or a calculation equation. Representative examples ofthe former case include context adaptive binary arithmetic coding(CABAC). The separated codes include prediction information to generatea prediction image, a prediction error to generate a difference image,and the like.

The entropy decoder 301 outputs a part of the separated codes to theparameter decoder 302. A part of the separated codes includes, forexample, a prediction mode predMode, a merge flag merge_flag, a mergeindex merge_idx, an inter prediction identifier inter_pred_idc, areference picture index refIdxLX, a prediction vector index mvp_LX_idx,and a difference vector mvdLX. Which code is to be decoded is controlledbased on an indication of the parameter decoder 302. The entropy decoder301 outputs quantization transform coefficients to the inversequantization and inverse transform unit 311.

The loop filter 305 is a filter that is provided in a coding loop andremoves block distortion and ringing distortion to improve imagequality. The loop filter 305 applies a filter such as a deblockingfilter 3051, a sample adaptive offset (SAO), and an adaptive loop filter(ALF) on a decoded image of a CU generated by the addition unit 312.

The reference picture memory 306 stores a decoded image of the CUgenerated by the addition unit 312 at a predefined position for eachtarget picture and target CU.

The prediction parameter memory 307 stores prediction parameters atpredefined position for each CTU or each CU to be decoded. Specifically,the prediction parameter memory 307 stores the parameters decoded by theparameter decoder 302, the prediction mode predMode separated by theentropy decoder 301, and the like.

The prediction mode predMode, the prediction parameters, and the likeare input to the prediction image generation unit 308. In addition, theprediction image generation unit 308 reads a reference picture from thereference picture memory 306. The prediction image generation unit 308generates a prediction image of a block or a sub-block using theprediction parameters and the read reference picture (reference pictureblock) in the prediction mode (intra prediction, inter prediction)indicated by the prediction mode predMode. Here, the reference pictureblock is a set (this is called a block since the shape thereof istypically a rectangle) of pixels in the reference picture and is aregion to be referred to for generating a prediction image.

Inter Prediction Image Generation Unit 309

Here, in a case that the prediction mode predMode indicates the interprediction mode, the inter prediction image generation unit 309generates a prediction image of a block or a sub-block through interprediction using inter prediction parameters input from the interprediction parameter decoder 303 and a reference picture.

Motion Compensation

A motion compensation unit 3091 (interpolated image generation unit)generates an interpolated image (motion compensation image) by reading ablock located at a position shifted by the amount of a motion vectormvLX starting from a position of a target block in a reference pictureRefLX designated by a reference picture index refIdxLX from thereference picture memory 306 based on the inter prediction parameters (aprediction list utilization flag predFlagLX, the reference picture indexrefIdxLX, and the motion vector mvLX) input from the inter predictionparameter decoder 303. Here, in a case that precision of the motionvector mvLX is not integer precision, the motion compensation image isgenerated by applying a filter to generate pixels at decimal positions,which is called motion compensation filter.

First, the motion compensation unit 3091 derives the integer position(xInt, yInt) corresponding to the intra-prediction-block coordinates (x,y) and a phase (xFrac, yFrac) by the following equations.xInt=xPb+(mvLX[0]>>(log 2(MVBIT)))+xxFrac=mvLX[O]&(MVBIT−1)yInt=yPb+(mvLX[1]>>(log 2(MVBIT)))+yyFrac=mvLX[1]&(MVBIT−1)

Here, (xPb, yPb) denotes the upper left coordinates of the block with asize of wPb*hPb, where x=0, . . . , wPb−1, y=0, . . . , hPb−1, and MVBITdenotes precision (1/MVBIT pixel precision) of the motion vector mvLX.

The motion compensation unit 3091 derives a temporary image temp[ ][ ]through horizontal interpolation processing on the reference picturerefImg using an interpolation filter. Σ satisfies k=0 below. The sumrelated to k in NTAP−1, or shift1 is a normalization parameter to adjusta range of a value, where offset1=1<<(shift1−1).temp[x][y]=(ΣmcFilter[xFrac][k]*refImg[xInt+k−NTAP/2+1][yInt]+offset1)>>shift1

Next, the motion compensation unit 3091 derives the interpolated imagePred[ ][ ] through vertical interpolation processing performed on thetemporary image temp[ ][ ], Σ satisfies k=0 below. The sum related to kin NTAP−1, or shift2 is a normalization parameter to adjust a range of avalue, where offset2=1<<(shift2−1).Pred[x][y]=(ΣmcFilter[yFrac][k]*temp[x][y+k−NTAP/2+1]+offset2)>>shift2

Note that in a case of bi-prediction, Pred[ ][ ] described above isderived for each of the L0 list and the L1 list (which will be referredto as interpolated images PredL0[ ][ ] and PredL1[ ][ ]) and theinterpolated image Pred[ ][ ] is generated from the interpolated imagePredL0[ ][ ] and the interpolated image PredL1[ ][ ],

Weight Prediction

A weight prediction unit 3094 generates a prediction image of a block bymultiplying the motion compensation image PredLX by a weightcoefficient. In a case that one of the prediction list utilization flags(predFlagL0 or predFlagL1) is 1 (uni-prediction) and weight predictionis not to be used, processing of the following equation to cause themotion compensation image PredLX (LX is L0 or L1) to conform to thepixel bit number bitDepth is performed.Pred[x][y]=Clip3(0,(1<<bitDepth)−1,(PredLX[x][y]+offset1)>>shift1)

Here, shift1=14−bitDepth, and offset1=1<<(shift1−1).

Also, in a case that both the reference list utilization flags(predFlagL0 and predFlagL1) are 1 (bi-prediction BiPred) and weightprediction is not to be used, processing of the following equation toaverage the motion interpolated images PredL0 and predL1 for conformityto the pixel bit number is performed.Pred[x][y]=Clip3(0,(1<<bitDepth)−1,(PredL0[x][y]+PredL1[x][y]+offset2)>>shift2)

Here, shift2=15−bitDepth, and offset2=1<<(shift2−1).

Further, in a case that uni-prediction and weight prediction areperformed, the weight prediction unit 3094 derives a weight predictioncoefficient w0 and an offset o0 from coded data and performs processingof the following equation.Pred[x][y]=Clip3(0,(1<<bitDepth)−1,((PredLX[x][y]*w0+2{circumflex over( )}(log 2WD−1))>>log 2WD)+o0)

Here, log 2WD is a variable indicating a predetermined amount of shift.

Further, in a case that bi-prediction BiPred and weight prediction areperformed, the weight prediction unit 3094 derives weight predictioncoefficients w0, w1, o0, and o1 from coded data and performs processingof the following equation.Pred[x][y]=Clip3(0,(1<<bitDepth)−1,(PredL0[x][y]*w0+PredL1[x][y]*w1+((o0+o1+1)<<log2WD))>>(log 2WD+1))

The inter prediction image generation unit 309 outputs the generatedprediction image of the block to the addition unit 312.

Intra Prediction Image Generation Unit 310

In a case that the prediction mode predMode indicates the intraprediction mode, the intra prediction image generation unit 310 performsintra prediction using intra prediction parameters input from the intraprediction parameter decoder 304 and reference pixels read from thereference picture memory 306.

Specifically, the intra prediction image generation unit 310 reads, fromthe reference picture memory 306, adjacent blocks within a predefinedrange from a target block in a target picture. The predefined rangeincludes adjacent blocks on the left, upper left, upper, and upper rightsides of the target block, and a region to be referred to differsdepending on the intra prediction mode.

The intra prediction image generation unit 310 generates a predictionimage of the target block with reference to a read decoded pixel valueand a prediction mode indicated by the intra prediction modeIntraPredMode. The intra prediction image generation unit 310 outputsthe generated prediction image to the addition unit 312.

The inverse quantization and inverse transform unit 311 performs inversequantization on a quantization transform coefficient input from theentropy decoder 301 to obtain a transform coefficient. The quantizationtransform coefficient is a coefficient obtained by performing frequencytransform such as a discrete cosine transform (DCT), a discrete sinetransform (DST), or a Karyhnen Loeve transform (KLT) on a predictionerror to quantize the error in coding processing. The inversequantization and inverse transform unit 311 performs inverse frequencytransform such as inverse DCT, inverse DST, or inverse KLT on theobtained transform coefficient to calculate a prediction error. Theinverse quantization and inverse transform unit 311 outputs theprediction error to the addition unit 312.

The addition unit 312 adds the prediction image of the block input fromthe prediction image generation unit 308 and the prediction error inputfrom the inverse quantization and inverse transform unit 311 for eachpixel to generate a decoded image of the block. The addition unit 312stores the decoded image of the block in the reference picture memory306 and outputs the decoded image to the loop filter 305.

Configuration of Video Coding Apparatus

Next, a configuration of the video coding apparatus 11 according to thepresent embodiment will be described. FIG. 27 is a block diagramillustrating a configuration of the video coding apparatus 11 accordingto the present embodiment. The video coding apparatus 11 is configuredto include a prediction image generation unit 101, a subtraction unit102, a transform and quantization unit 103, an inverse quantization andinverse transform unit 105, an addition unit 106, a loop filter 107, aprediction parameter memory (a prediction parameter storage unit, aframe memory) 108, a reference picture memory (a reference image storageunit, a frame memory) 109, a coding parameter determination unit 110, aparameter coder 111, and an entropy coder 104.

The prediction image generation unit 101 generates a prediction imagefor each CU that is a region obtained by splitting each picture of animage T. The prediction image generation unit 101 performs the sameoperations as those of the prediction image generation unit 308 whichhas already been described, and description thereof will be omitted.

The subtraction unit 102 generates a prediction error by subtracting,from a pixel value of the image T, a pixel value of the prediction imageof the block input from the prediction image generation unit 101. Thesubtraction unit 102 outputs the prediction error to the transform andquantization unit 103.

The transform and quantization unit 103 calculates a transformcoefficient through frequency transform performed on the predictionerror input from the subtraction unit 102 and derives a quantizationtransform coefficient through quantization. The transform andquantization unit 103 outputs the quantization transform coefficient tothe entropy coder 104 and the inverse quantization and inverse transformunit 105.

The inverse quantization and inverse transform unit 105 is the same asthe inverse quantization and inverse transform unit 311 (FIG. 26 ) inthe video decoding apparatus 31, and description thereof will beomitted. The calculated prediction error is output to the addition unit106.

The parameter coder 111 is configured with a partial image regioncontroller 120, and an inter prediction parameter coder 112 and an intraprediction parameter coder 113, which are not illustrated in thedrawing.

The partial image region controller 120 includes a header coder 1110, aCT information coder 1111, a CU coder 1112 (prediction mode coder), andan inter prediction parameter coder 112 and an intra predictionparameter coder 113, which are not illustrated in the drawing. The CUcoder 1112 further includes a TU coder 1114.

Hereinafter, overview operations of each module will be described. Theparameter coder 111 performs processing of coding header information,split information, prediction information, and parameters such asquantization transform coefficient.

The CT information coder 1111 codes QT and MT (BT, TT) split informationand the like from coded data.

The CU coder 1112 codes CU information, prediction information, a TUsplitting flag split_transform_flag, a CU residual flags cbf_cb, cbf_cr,and cbf_luma, and the like.

The TU coder 1114 codes QP update information (quantization correctionvalue) and a quantization prediction error (residual_coding) in a casethat a TU includes a prediction error.

The entropy coder 104 transforms syntax elements supplied from a supplysource into binary data, generates coded data by an entropy codingscheme such as CABAC, and outputs the coded data. The supply source ofthe syntax elements is the CT information coder 1111 and the CU coder1112. The syntax elements include inter prediction parameters (aprediction mode predMode, a merge flag merge flag, a merge indexmerge_idx, an inter prediction identifier inter_pred_idc, a referencepicture index refIdxLX, a prediction vector index mvp_LX_idx, adifference vector mvdLX), intra prediction parameters(prev_intra_luma_pred_flag, mpm_idx, rem_selected_mode_flag,rem_selected_mode, rem_non_selected_mode), a quantization transformcoefficient, and the like.

The entropy coder 104 entropy-codes the split information, theprediction parameters, the quantization transform coefficient, and thelike to generate a coding stream Te and outputs the coding stream Te.

Configuration of Inter Prediction Parameter Coder

The inter prediction parameter coder 112 derives inter predictionparameters based on prediction parameters input from the codingparameter determination unit 110. The inter prediction parameter coder112 partially includes the same configuration as the configuration withwhich the inter prediction parameter decoder 303 derives interprediction parameters.

Configuration of Intra Prediction Parameter Coder 113

The intra prediction parameter coder 113 derives a format for coding(for example, mpm_idx, rem_intra_luma_pred_mode, and the like) from theintra prediction mode IntraPredMode input from the coding parameterdetermination unit 110. The intra prediction parameter coder 113partially includes the same configuration as the configuration withwhich the intra prediction parameter decoder 304 derives intraprediction parameters.

The addition unit 106 adds a pixel value of a prediction image of ablock input from the prediction image generation unit 101 and aprediction error input from the inverse quantization and inversetransform unit 105 for each pixel to generate a decoded image. Theaddition unit 106 stores the generated decoded image in the referencepicture memory 109.

The loop filter 107 applies a deblocking filter, SAO, or ALF to thedecoded image generated by the addition unit 106. Note that the loopfilter 107 may not necessarily include the aforementioned three types offilters and may be configured only with a deblocking filter, forexample.

The prediction parameter memory 108 stores the prediction parametersgenerated by the coding parameter determination unit 110 at a predefinedposition for each target picture and each CU.

The reference picture memory 109 stores the decoded image generated bythe loop filter 107 at a predefined position for each target picture andeach CU.

The coding parameter determination unit 110 selects one set from among aplurality of sets of coding parameters. The coding parameters are theaforementioned QT, BT, or TT split information, the predictionparameters, or parameters to be coded that are generated in relation tothese. The prediction image generation unit 101 generates a predictionimage using these coding parameters.

The coding parameter determination unit 110 calculates an RD cost valueindicating how large the amount of information is and indicating acoding error for each of the plurality of sets. The RD cost value is asum of the amount of coding and a value obtained by multiplying a squareerror by a coefficient λ, for example. The amount of coding is theamount of information of the coding stream Te obtained by entropy-codingthe quantization error and the coding parameters. The square error is asquare sum of the prediction error calculated by the subtraction unit102. The coefficient λ is a preset real number that is greater zero. Thecoding parameter determination unit 110 selects a set of codingparameters with which the calculated cost value is minimum. The entropycoder 104 thus outputs the selected set of coding parameters as thecoding stream Te. The coding parameter determination unit 110 stores thedetermined coding parameters in the prediction parameter memory 108.

Note that a part of the video coding apparatus 11 and the video decodingapparatus 31 in the aforementioned embodiment, for example, the entropydecoder 301, the parameter decoder 302, the loop filter 305, theprediction image generation unit 308, the inverse quantization andinverse transform unit 311, the addition unit 312, the prediction imagegeneration unit 101, the subtraction unit 102, the transform andquantization unit 103, the entropy coder 104, the inverse quantizationand inverse transform unit 105, the loop filter 107, the codingparameter determination unit 110, and the parameter coder 111 may berealized by a computer. In that case, this configuration may be realizedby recording a program for realizing such control functions on acomputer-readable recording medium and causing a computer system to readand perform the program recorded on the recording medium. Note that the“computer system” mentioned here refers to a computer system built ineither the video coding apparatus 11 or the video decoding apparatus 31and is assumed to include an OS and hardware components such as aperipheral apparatus. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recordingmedium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, amagneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as ahard disk built in the computer system. Moreover, the “computer-readablerecording medium” may include a medium that dynamically retains aprogram for a short period of time, such as a communication line in acase that the program is transmitted over a network such as the Internetor over a communication line such as a telephone line, and may alsoinclude a medium that retains the program for a specific period of time,such as a volatile memory included in a computer system functioning as aserver or a client in such a case. Furthermore, the aforementionedprogram may be one for realizing some of the aforementioned functions,and also may be one capable of realizing the aforementioned functions incombination with a program that has already been recorded in a computersystem.

A video decoding apparatus according to an aspect of the presentinvention includes: a picture splitting unit configured to split apicture into a partial image region and a non-partial image regionincluding any one of a CTU, a CTU column, and a CTU row as a minimumunit; and a prediction image generation unit configured to generate aprediction image, in which the prediction image generation unit uses, ona block included in the partial image region, intra prediction and loopfilter processing referring only to decoded pixels in the partial imageregion in the picture or inter prediction referring to the partial imageregion of the reference picture of the picture, and uses, on a block inthe non-partial image region, intra prediction and loop filterprocessing referring to decoded pixels in the picture or interprediction referring to the reference picture of the picture, and thevideo decoding apparatus decodes the picture and then configures thepartial image region of the picture as a partial image region of thereference picture.

A video decoding apparatus according to an aspect of the presentinvention includes: a picture splitting unit configured to split apicture into a partial image region and a non-partial image regionincluding any one of a CTU, a CTU column, and a CTU row as a minimumunit; and a prediction image generation unit configured to generate aprediction image, in which the prediction image generation unit refersto information indicating whether or not the picture is randomlyaccessible, and the video decoding apparatus decodes the picture using,on a block included in the partial image region, intra prediction andloop filter processing referring only to decoded pixels in the partialimage region in the picture in a case that the picture is randomlyaccessible, using, on the block included in the partial image region,the intra prediction and the loop filter processing referring only tothe decoded pixels in the partial image region in the picture or theinter prediction referring to the partial image region of a referencepicture of the picture in a case that the picture is not randomlyaccessible, and on a block included in the non-partial image region,using the intra prediction and the loop filter processing referring tothe decoded pixels in the picture or the inter prediction referring tothe reference picture of the picture regardless of whether or not thepicture is randomly accessible, thereby configuring the partial imageregion of the picture as a partial image region of the referencepicture.

In the video decoding apparatus according to an aspect of the presentinvention, the picture splitting unit splits the picture into thepartial image region and the non-partial image region with reference toregion information decoded from coded data.

In the video decoding apparatus according to an aspect of the presentinvention, the region information includes information indicating aposition and a size of the partial image region.

In the video decoding apparatus according to an aspect of the presentinvention, refresh information is decoded, the refresh informationindicating the number of pictures from the picture including informationthat is randomly accessible to a picture of which entirety becomes apartial image region.

A video coding apparatus according to an aspect of the present inventionincludes: a picture splitting unit configured to split a picture into apartial image region and a non-partial image region including any one ofa CTU, a CTU column, and a CTU row as a minimum unit; and a predictionimage generation unit configured to generate a prediction image, inwhich the prediction image generation unit configures, after the pictureis coded, the partial image region of the picture as a partial imageregion of a reference picture using, on a block included in the partialimage region, intra prediction and loop filter processing referring onlyto decoded pixels in the partial image region in the picture or interprediction referring to a limited reference region of the referencepicture of the picture, and using, on a block included in thenon-partial image region, intra prediction and loop filter processingreferring to decoded pixels in the picture or inter prediction referringto the reference picture of the picture.

A part or all of the video coding apparatus 11 and the video decodingapparatus 31 in the aforementioned embodiments may be realized as anintegrated circuit such as a large scale integration (LSI). Functionalblocks of the video coding apparatus 11 and the video decoding apparatus31 may be individually realized as processors, or a part or all of thefunctional blocks may be integrated into processors. The circuitintegration technique is not limited to the LSI, and the integratedcircuits may be realized as dedicated circuits or a general-purposeprocessor. In a case that with advances in semiconductor technology, acircuit integration technology with which an LSI is replaced appears, anintegrated circuit based on the technology may be used.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described indetail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is notlimited to the above embodiments, and various amendments can be made toa design without departing from the gist thereof.

Application Examples

The aforementioned video coding apparatus 11 and the video decodingapparatus 31 can be mounted on and used with various apparatusesperforming transmission, reception, recording, and regeneration ofvideos. Note that the video may be a natural video imaged by a camera orthe like or may be an artificial video (including CG and GUI) generatedby computer or the like.

First, the fact that it is possible to use the aforementioned videocoding apparatus 11 and the video decoding apparatus 31 to transmit andreceive videos will be described with reference to FIG. 16 .

FIG. 16(a) is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of atransmitting apparatus PROD_A equipped with the video coding apparatus11. As illustrated in FIG. 16(a), the transmitting apparatus PROD_Aincludes a coder PROD_A1 which obtains coded data by coding a video, amodulator PROD_A2 which obtains a modulation signal by modulatingcarrier waves with the coded data obtained by the coder PROD_A1, and atransmitter PROD_A3 which transmits the modulation signals obtained bythe modulator PROD_A2. The aforementioned video coding apparatus 11 isused as the coder PROD_A1.

The transmitting apparatus PROD_A may further include a camera PROD_A4that images a video, a recording medium PROD_A5 that records the video,an input terminal PROD_A6 for inputting the video from the outside, andan image processing unit A7 which generates or processes the image, assupply sources of the video input to the coder PROD_A1. Although anexample configuration in which the transmitting apparatus PROD_Aincludes all of the components is illustrated in FIG. 16(a), some of thecomponents may be omitted.

Note that the recording medium PROD_A5 may record videos which have notbeen coded or may record videos which have been coded in a coding schemefor recording that is different from a coding scheme for transmission.In the latter case, a decoder (not illustrated) to decode coded dataread from the recording medium PROD_A5 in accordance with the codingscheme for recording may be interposed between the recording mediumPROD_A5 and the coder PROD_A1.

FIG. 16(b) is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of areceiving apparatus PROD_B equipped with the video decoding apparatus31. As illustrated in FIG. 16(b), the receiving apparatus PROD_Bincludes a receiver PROD_B1 that receives a modulation signal, ademodulator PROD_B2 that obtains coded data by demodulating themodulation signal received by the receiver PROD_B1, and a decoderPROD_B3 that obtains a video by decoding the coded data obtained by thedemodulator PROD_B2. The aforementioned video decoding apparatus 31 isused as the decoder PROD_B3.

The receiving apparatus PROD_B may further include a display PROD_B4that displays a video, a recording medium PROD_B5 for recording thevideo, and an output terminal PROD_B6 for outputting the video to theoutside, as supply destinations of the video output by the decoderPROD_B3. Although an example configuration in which the receivingapparatus PROD_B includes all of the components is illustrated in FIG.16(b), some of the components may be omitted.

Note that the recording medium PROD_B5 may record videos which have notbeen coded, or may record videos which have been coded in a codingscheme for recording that is different from a coding scheme fortransmission. In the latter case, a coder (not illustrated) that codesvideos acquired from the decoder PROD_B3 in accordance with the codingscheme for recording may be interposed between the decoder PROD_B3 andthe recording medium PROD_B5.

Note that a transmission medium for transmitting modulation signals maybe a wireless medium or may be a wired medium. In addition, atransmission mode in which the modulation signals are transmitted may bea broadcast (here, which indicates a transmission mode in which atransmission destination is not specified in advance) or may be acommunication (here, which indicates a transmission mode in which atransmission destination is specified in advance). That is, thetransmission of the modulation signals may be realized by any of awireless broadcast, a wired broadcast, a wireless communication, and awired communication.

For example, a broadcasting station (such as broadcastingequipment)/receiving station (such as a television receiver) for digitalterrestrial broadcasting is an example of the transmitting apparatusPROD_A/receiving apparatus PROD_B for transmitting and/or receiving themodulation signals in the wireless broadcast. In addition, abroadcasting station (such as broadcasting equipment)/receiving station(such as a television receiver) for cable television broadcasting is anexample of the transmitting apparatus PROD_A/receiving apparatus PROD_Bfor transmitting and/or receiving the modulation signals in the wiredbroadcast.

In addition, a server (such as a workstation)/client (such as atelevision receiver, a personal computer, a smartphone) for Video OnDemand (VOD) services, video hosting services and the like using theInternet is an example of the transmitting apparatus PROD_A/receivingapparatus PROD_B for transmitting and/or receiving the modulationsignals in communication (usually, any of a wireless medium or a wiredmedium is used as a transmission medium in LAN, and the wired medium isused as a transmission medium in WAN). Here, the personal computerincludes a desktop PC, a laptop PC, and a tablet PC. In addition, asmartphones also include a multifunctional mobile telephone terminal.

A client of a video hosting service has a function of coding a videoimaged with a camera and uploading the video to a server, in addition toa function of decoding coded data downloaded from a server anddisplaying on a display. Thus, the client of the video hosting servicefunctions both as the transmitting apparatus PROD_A and as the receivingapparatus PROD_B.

Next, the fact that it is possible to use the aforementioned videocoding apparatus 11 and the video decoding apparatus 31 to record andreconstruct a video will be described with reference to FIG. 17 .

FIG. 17(a) is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of arecording apparatus PROD_C equipped with the aforementioned video codingapparatus 11. As illustrated in the drawing, the recording apparatusPROD_C includes a coder PROD_C1 that obtains coded data by coding avideo and a writer PROD_C2 that writes the coded data obtained by thecoder PROD_C1 in a recording medium PROD_M. The aforementioned videocoding apparatus 11 is used as the coder PROD_C1.

Note that the recording medium PROD_M may be (1) a type of recordingmedium built in the recording apparatus PROD_C such as a hard disk drive(HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), may be (2) a type of recordingmedium connected to the recording apparatus PROD_C such as an SD memorycard or a universal serial bus (USB) flash memory, or may be (3) a typeof recording medium loaded in a drive apparatus (not illustrated) builtin the recording apparatus PROD_C such as Digital Versatile Disc (DVD:trade name) or a Blue-ray Disc (BD: trade name).

In addition, the recording apparatus PROD_C may further include a cameraPROD_C3 that images a video, an input terminal PROD_C4 for inputting thevideo from the outside, a receiver PROD_C5 for receiving the video, andan image processing unit PROD_C6 that generates or processes images, assupply sources of the video input to the coder PROD_C1. Although anexample configuration in which the recording apparatus PROD_C includesall of the components is illustrated in the drawing, some of thecomponents may be omitted.

Note that the receiver PROD_C5 may receive a video which has not beencoded or may receive coded data which has been coded in a coding schemefor transmission that is different from the coding scheme for recording.In the latter case, a decoder for transmission (not illustrated) thatdecodes coded data which has been coded in the coding scheme fortransmission may be interposed between the receiver PROD_C5 and thecoder PROD_C1.

Examples of such a recording apparatus PROD_C include a DVD recorder, aBD recorder, a hard disk drive (HDD) recorder, and the like (in thiscase, the input terminal PROD_C4 or the receiver PROD_C5 serves as amain supply source of videos). In addition, a camcorder (in this case,the camera PROD_C3 serves as a main supply source of videos), a personalcomputer (in this case, the receiver PROD_C5 or the image processingunit C6 serves as a main supply source of videos), a smartphone (in thiscase, the camera PROD_C3 or the receiver PROD_C5 serves as a main supplysource of videos), or the like is an example of such a recordingapparatus PROD_C as well.

FIG. 17(b) is block illustrating a configuration of a reconstructionapparatus PROD_D equipped with the aforementioned video decodingapparatus 31. As illustrated in the drawing, the reconstructionapparatus PROD_D includes a reader PROD_D1 which reads coded datawritten in the recording medium PROD_M and a decoder PROD_D2 whichobtains a video by decoding the coded data read by the reader PROD_D1.The aforementioned video decoding apparatus 31 is used as the decoderPROD_D2.

Note that the recording medium PROD_M may be (1) a type of recordingmedium built in the reconstruction apparatus PROD_D such as an HDD or anSSD, may be (2) a type of recording medium connected to thereconstruction apparatus PROD_D such as an SD memory card or a USB flashmemory, or may be (3) a type of recording medium loaded in a driveapparatus (not illustrated) built in the reconstruction apparatus PROD_Dsuch as a DVD or a BD.

In addition, the reconstruction apparatus PROD_D may further include adisplay PROD_D3 that displays a video, an output terminal PROD_D4 foroutputting the video to the outside, and a transmitter PROD_D5 thattransmits the video, as supply destinations of the video output by thedecoder PROD_D2. Although an example configuration in which thereconstruction apparatus PROD_D includes all of the components isillustrated in the drawing, some of the components may be omitted.

Note that the transmitter PROD_D5 may transmit a video which has notbeen coded or may transmit coded data which has been coded in a codingscheme for transmission that is different from a coding scheme forrecording. In the latter case, a coder (not illustrated) that codes avideo in the coding scheme for transmission may be interposed betweenthe decoder PROD_D2 and the transmitter PROD_D5.

Examples of such a reconstruction apparatus PROD_D include, for example,a DVD player, a BD player, an HDD player, and the like (in this case,the output terminal PROD_D4 to which a television receiver or the likeis connected serves as a main supply destination of videos). Inaddition, a television receiver (in this case, the display PROD_D3serves as a main supply destination of videos), a digital signage (thisis also referred to as an electronic signboard, an electronic bulletinboard, or the like, and the display PROD_D3 or the transmitter PROD_D5serves as a main supply destination of videos), a desktop PC (in thiscase, the output terminal PROD_D4 or the transmitter PROD_D5 serves as amain supply destination of videos), a laptop or tablet PC (in this case,the display PROD_D3 or the transmitter PROD_D5 serves as a main supplydestination of videos), a smartphone (in this case, the display PROD_D3or the transmitter PROD_D5 serves as a main supply destination ofvideos), or the like is an example of the reconstruction apparatusPROD_D.

Realization by Hardware and Realization by Software

Each block of the aforementioned video decoding apparatus 31 and thevideo coding apparatus 11 may be realized as hardware using a logicalcircuit formed on an integrated circuit (IC chip) or may be realized assoftware using a central processing unit (CPU).

In the latter case, each apparatus includes a CPU performing a commandof a program to implement each function, a read only memory (ROM)storing the program, a random access memory (RAM) in which the programis deployed, and a storage apparatus (recording medium) such as a memorystoring the program and various kinds of data, and the like. Inaddition, an object of the embodiments of the present invention can alsobe achieved by supplying, to each of the apparatuses, a recording mediumthat records, in a computer readable form, program codes of a controlprogram (executable program, intermediate code program, source program)of each of the apparatuses that is software for realizing theaforementioned functions and by reading and executing, by the computer(or a CPU or an MPU), the program codes recorded in the recordingmedium.

As the recording medium, for example, tapes including a magnetic tape, acassette tape, and the like, discs including a magnetic disk such as afloppy (trade name) disk/a hard disk and an optical disc such as acompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)/a magneto-optical disc (MOdisc)/a mini disc (Md)/a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD; trade name)/a CDrecordable (CD-R)/a Blu-ray (trade name) disc (trade name), cards suchas an IC card (including a memory card)/an optical card, semiconductormemories such as a mask ROM/an erasable programmable read-only memory(EPROM)/an Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read-Only Memory(EEPROM: trade name)/a flash ROM, logical circuits such as aprogrammable logic device (PLD) and a field programmable gate array(FPGA), or the like can be used.

In addition, each of the apparatuses may be configured to be connectableto a communication network, and the program codes may be suppliedthrough the communication network. The communication network may be anycommunication network as long as it is possible to transmit the programcodes and is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, anintranet, an extranet, a local area network (LAN), an integratedservices digital network (ISDN), a value-added network (VAN), acommunity antenna television/cable television (CATV) communicationnetwork, a virtual private network, a telephone network, a mobilecommunication network, a satellite communication network, and the likeare available. In addition, a transmission medium constituting thiscommunication network may be any transmission medium as long as it ispossible to transmit the program codes and is not limited to one with aspecific configuration or of a specific type. For example, a wiredtransmission medium such as Institute of Electrical and ElectronicEngineers (IEEE) 1394, a USB, a power line carrier, a cable TV line, atelephone line, an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL), and awireless transmission medium such as infrared ray of infrared dataassociation (IrDA) or a remote control, BlueTooth (trade name), IEEE802.11 wireless communication, high data rate (HDR), near fieldcommunication (NFC), Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA: trade name),a cellular telephone network, a satellite channel, a terrestrial digitalbroadcast network are available. Note that the embodiments of thepresent invention can be also realized in the form of computer datasignals embedded in carrier waves such that the transmission of theprogram codes is embodied in electronic transmission.

The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to theaforementioned embodiments, and various modifications are possiblewithin the scope of the claims. In other words, embodiments obtained bycombining technical means modified appropriately within the scopedefined by claims are included in the technical scope of the presentinvention as well.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The embodiments of the present invention can be suitably applied to avideo decoding apparatus that decodes coded data obtained by codingimage data and a video coding apparatus that generates coded dataobtained by coding image data. It is possible to suitably apply theembodiments of the present invention to a data structure of a coded datagenerated by a video coding apparatus and referred to by the videodecoding apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to JP 2018-160712 filedon Aug. 29, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   31 Image decoding apparatus-   301 Entropy decoder-   302 Parameter decoder-   3020 Header decoder-   303 Inter prediction parameter decoder-   304 Intra prediction parameter decoder-   308 Prediction image generation unit-   309 Inter prediction image generation unit-   310 intra prediction image generation unit-   311 Inverse quantization and inverse transform unit-   312 Addition unit-   320 Partial image region controller-   11 Image coding apparatus-   101 Prediction image generation unit-   102 Subtraction unit-   103 Transform and quantization unit-   104 Entropy coder-   105 Inverse quantization and inverse transform unit-   107 Loop filter-   110 Coding parameter determination unit-   111 Parameter coder-   112 Inter prediction parameter coder-   113 Intra prediction parameter coder-   120 Partial image region controller-   1110 Header coder-   1111 CT information coder-   1112 CU coder (prediction mode coder)-   1114 TU coder

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of signaling gradual refresh fordecoding a set of pictures, the method including: identifying a firstpicture in a set of pictures as being associated with a gradualrefreshed picture; storing a network abstraction layer (NAL) unit typein a coded stream associated with the first picture, the NAL unit typeidentifying presence of the gradual refreshed picture; and storing, inthe coded stream, an enable flag to identify use of gradual refresh fordecoding at least a subset of the pictures in the set of pictures. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the enable flag is stored in a sequenceparameter set (SPS) of the coded stream associated with the firstpicture.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing in thecoded stream a picture number from the gradual refresh first picture toa picture that can be entirely decoded correctly.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the NAL unit type identifying presence of the gradualrefreshed picture is stored in a NAL unit of the coded stream.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the coded stream includes an encoding of theset of pictures including the first picture.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the subset of pictures comprises the first picture.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the subset of pictures comprises one or morepictures after the first picture.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein thesubset of pictures comprises a number of pictures after the firstpicture, the method further comprising storing in the coded stream thenumber of the pictures after the first picture.
 9. The method of claim8, wherein the number specifies the number of pictures that need to beprocessed after the first picture in order to completely decode thegradual refreshed picture.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein aparameter decoder of a video decoder uses the NAL unit type to identifythe presence of the gradual refreshed picture, and uses the storednumber to identify the number of the pictures that it needs to processin order to completely decode the gradual refreshed picture.
 11. Themethod of claim 8, wherein storing the number comprises storing thenumber in a NAL unit parameter set of the coded stream associated withthe first picture.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the NAL unitparameter set is a sequence parameter set (SPS) of the coded streamassociated with the first picture.
 13. The method of claim 11, whereinstoring the enable flag comprises storing the enable flag in a sequenceparameter set (SPS) of the coded stream associated with the firstpicture.